Introducing the Anti-Venom

Share.

Interview: Spider-Man editor Steve Wacker discusses the return of Eddie Brock, the Green Goblin and an entirely new threat.

By Richard George & Jesse Schedeen

This August, things are going to get messy for Peter Parker. As if his life hasn't been challenging enough in 2008, three of his greatest enemies are about to return - Eddie Brock (the former Venom), Mac Gargan (the current Venom, former Scorpion) and Norman Osborn (former Green Goblin). But that's not all. A new creature is entering the fray, the Anti-Venom.

This arc, appropriately entitled "New Ways to Die," will see Dan Slott teaming with the returning John Romita Jr. We contacted editor Steve Wacker for some brief information on what to expect. Count on more details as this huge arc nears release, and be sure to check out the images included as they include the first complete look at Anti-Venom.

IGN Comics: This arc seems to be one of the biggest since Brand New Day started. Conceptually was this something conjured by the Brain Trust or was this something you thought of?

Steve Wacker: Overall this is a product of the twisted mind of Dandy Dan Slott, but each of the guys in the braintrust gave notes and contributed suggestions.

What Dan has done (with the help of Zeb, Bob and Marc) is take many of the threads of our first year, added some new twists, turns and classic badguys and come up with a story that affects Peter and the rest of the cast deeply. No one is unaffected after this one.

New Ways to Die

IGN Comics: Venom has more or less been absent from Spidey's life for a considerable amount of time – are we dealing with Eddie Brock or Mac Gargan here?

Wacker: We're picking up the story of Eddie Brock from where we left it in Sensational Spider-Man last year and Mac is coming over from the T-Bolts. As for where we go from there and how it affects Venom...well that's what I want people to buy the book for.

IGN Comics: Anti-Venom seems fairly on the nose, but we'd like to see what you can tell us about this character: Is this an established character? Is this someone related to Brock? Are there ties to any existing villains?

Wacker: Brand new...but he does have a tie to an existing villain in Spidey's life.

IGN Comics: This arc also brings Norman Osborn back into Peter Parker's life. Now that Osborn is somewhat of a "legitimate entity" in the Marvel Universe, how will his relationship with Peter change? Will we be seeing how Harry's past as changed? Will we see Norman return to his Green Goblin persona by this point?

Wacker: Every issue I look forward to any scenes between Harry and Norman. With both of them back, we're going to get a chance over the next few months to delve deep into what has happened to Harry. What happened to his wife, his son Normie Jr... and just what dear old dad thinks of it all.

IGN Comics: These days, where there's Norman, there's usually Thunderbolts. Will we see Osborn's team enter the fray here to mix it up with Spidey and Venom? Does this arc factor in the events occurring in Secret Invasion?

Wacker: Yes and yep.

The Anti-Venom

IGN Comics: What made John Romita Jr the right artist for this arc and these villainous returns? Are the members of the Brain Trust able to request particular artists for their various storylines or is that determined by you?

Wacker: I'm more or less in charge of who get assigned where and a lot of factors go into each choice including schedule and appropriateness for the story. For John, I've known for months that he was able and willing to come into the fray, so we were able to plan ahead and build a big story worthy of one of the best artists in Spidey history.

Like the cast of the book, I think we have a good combo of creators who have a history with Spidey and those who bring a fresh eye to the book.

JRJR has drawn probably thousands of Spidey pages, but he's coming onto this book like a kid with something to prove. With his cohorts Klaus Janson and Dean White inking and coloring this thing, it's a good time to be a Spider-Man fan... but a horrible time to be Spider-man.

Mac Gargan and Eddie Brock back? Which one is Venom? Will one be the Anti-Venom? And which villain does the "A-V" have ties to? For that matter, what's this about Wacker's response to Norman being the Green Goblin? Do you love the ideas for this story arc or hate them? Sound off in our message boards and stay tuned as we dig up more details in the coming weeks and months!